(OTTAWA) – The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is applauding the federal government’s announcement of its $1 million investment to help create a Human Resources Sector Council for the Canadian agriculture industry. The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, made the announcement on Saturday, September 16.

“From training new farm workers to ensuring there is a constant labour supply for all commodity sectors, there are many human resource issues facing our industry,” said Bob Friesen, CFA President. “Addressing those issues is critical piece in achieving strategic growth for our industry.”

The Government of Canada’s Sector Council Program allows the different partners and stakeholders in an industry sector to work together to develop solutions to the human resources issues facing their sector. For the past three years CFA has been working with other agriculture stakeholder groups to establish a Sector Council to address the unique human resources needs of the agriculture industry. The work has included a broad-ranging survey of both producers and processors in all agricultural commodity sectors to identify the human resources needs and issues currently facing the industry.

“I want to thank both Human Resources Minister Diane Finley and Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Chuck Strahl for the support they have shown for the agriculture sector council project,” said Friesen. “This will be an important tool in building the future of Canadian agriculture.”

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Founded in 1935 to provide Canada's farmers with a single voice in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture is the country's largest farmers' organization. Its members include provincial general farm organizations as well as national and inter-provincial commodity organizations from every province. Through its members, CFA represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families.